Objection: Argumentative!

"Ted Lasso is the most harmful cultural product of the last decade." In the SERIES finale, host Murphy Kenefick takes the guest spot for the third and final time to argue that the personification of nicecore in Ted Lasso is not just bad, but harmful to the American cultural psyche. First-ever guest and friend of the show Patrick Fretwell takes the hosting position and faces off against Murphy and his advocate (another friend of the show) Parker Sipes. Later, Murphy unloads all of his remaining pet peeves and smaller hot takes to varying degrees of acceptance. The three of them bicker and laugh in the longest episode of the podcast ever and say goodbye to the show. Thank you for three great years of Objection: Argumentative!

"You shouldn't care about other people's opinions." In the penultimate episode, Letterboxd Hall of Famer Matt Lynch comes on to argue that when it comes to other people's opinions, specifically about media, you shouldn't try to change anybody's mind. Season 1 guest Josh Philips advocates for him and Murphy defends the entire ethos of the show and gets yelled at about his bad basketball opinions.

"Newspaper paywalls are good and you should pay for them." Podcast superstar Patrick Fretwell returns to the guest seat for the first time since the premiere with fellow Furman alumni Craig Yount to argue that those annoying online newspaper paywalls? Those are good. Murphy marvels at this and revels in pushing Patrick's buttons in the antepenultimate episode of the podcast.

"All social media should be banned for everyone" AND "Everyone should be mandated to use creatine once they start puberty." A very special (and unhinged) episode as two guests bring two topics and act as each other's advocate. Murphy sits back and marvels at Nick and Sawyer's reasoning and creativity. Perhaps the funniest and most heavily edited episode to date.

"Streaming is more responsible for the death of movies than anything else." Film camp alumni Marco Zucchini comes on to argue that the streaming method is basically irredeemable and has lead to the ultimate death of movies. Parker Sipes is also there. Murphy tries to argue for their worth.

"Gentle parenting is ineffective and bad." Top Five member Julia Warren returns (with an anonymous advocate) to argue against the idea of gentle parenting. Murphy insists that it has some value! Then Julia goes on to misunderstand what a hot take is.

"Psychoanalysis is evil." Twitter friend, film professor, and psychoanalysis expert Pate Duncan comes on to argue the complexities of psychoanalysis are actually quite evil. Murphy struggles to keep up with the nomenclature. Patrick is also there as Pate's advocate.

"No one's family actually wants the best for them." Chapman alumni Marissa Rimes comes on (with the help of appointed representative Parker Sipes) to argue that nobody's family truly wants the best for them, without some selfish reason. Murphy gets hung up on the absolutism of it all.

"Movies are not dead or dying and are actually just as good." Podcast superstars Joseph Salomone and Adam Sirdoreus come on to argue against the idea that movies are dead, and insist that they are just as good. This frustrates Murphy who misses the quality of the films from his youth. Later, they collectively complain about stuff you probably didn't even know existed.

"People shouldn't be vegans." In the season three premiere, pharmacology students and lovers Mary Frances Vest and Bo Wood return to the podcast to argue that veganism isn't actually good and people should avoid it. Murphy struggles to keep up with all the terminology and with fighting two people at once.

"The entire collegiate system is completely broken and until it's fixed, people should stop going to college." In the season finale, Murphy is the guest and honorary first guest Patrick Fretwell sits in the host chair. Murphy argues that the education system is so thoroughly broken that until it's no longer an aggressive grift, it's really not worth going. He then dumps out the rest of his hot takes that he didn't get to in the rest of the season. This is the last episode for quite a while but Objection: Argumentative! will return!...eventually.

"There is never a need to eat out at a restaurant; in fact it's better to avoid them." Keeping with tradition, for the penultimate episode, actual adult and librarian Michael Jacobs née Hall comes on to argue for cooking all of your own food and staying away from restaurants. Murphy, famous foodie, argues for restaurants' necessity. Will their interaction be any different now that Murphy is no longer a high schooler? The answer may surprise you.

"The deep state is real and is good." In an Objection: Argumentative first, our guest wants to keep their identity a secret! He comes on to discuss the deep state and why unelected government agents making decisions behind the scenes is actually a good thing. Maybe he actually has some credibility and that's why he wants to be anonymous...decide for yourself while Murphy successfully never says his name.

"Bullying, in some instances, is beneficial to the overall health of society." Political Science major and gamer Parker Sipes comes on to advocate for bullying and its positive effects on behavior...in certain situations. How far should it go? How does it help? Will Murphy shove him into a locker like he did back in their fraternity days? Tune in to find out.

"You are more likely to have a successful relationship if you date a guy who grew up with sisters." Internet friend Lindsey Baatz comes on to argue that guys who have sisters are inherently going to be better at romantic relationships than those who didn't (like only child Murphy Kenefick). What about everybody else? Murphy insists that whatever this innate quality is, that it can be learned. Listen to their second and longest conversation they've ever had!

"Ignorance really is bliss and people should adopt it as a lifestyle." Communications major from Furman Chad Boltz comes on the show to argue that the burden of learning and growing is too great and that we'd all be better of staying in the allegorical cave. Murphy argues for being cultured and fails to keep Chad from revealing the date this was recorded. Disclaimer: the audio of the first section is not ideal, but it does return to usual quality in the second section.

"Broadway should not be reopened." Theater major Elizabeth Budinoff comes on to bemoan the current state of Broadway and insists that it shouldn't be allowed to be reopened after the pandemic. Murphy is forced to defend the culture, the productions based on other IP, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

"People should invest in blockchain technology and the government has no right to regulate it." Pharmacology student and Frances Vest's significant other comes on to argue for crypto currency and the technology behind it. Once we thoroughly unpack what that means, is there any real argument against it? What follows gives birth to an unprecedented episode.

"Everybody should adopt an Alpha mindset." Darlington graduate Sawyer Hicks come on the advocate for the Alpha mentality in everyday life. What does this mean, exactly? The definition might change as the episode goes on. We get to the bottom of that along with why everyone should get on board with it. And then, of course, there's discussion of Fortnite.

"The minimum wage should be raised nationally." Furman friend Courtney Dorn comes on to kick off the second season by arguing for an across the board raise of the minimum wage. Naturally, Murphy has issues with this and attempts to poke holes. Welcome back to court!

In the season finale, the script is flipped and usual host Murphy Kenefick comes on as the guest to argue that there is never an excuse not to respond to a text within 24 hours. First ever guest Patrick Fretwell fills in as host and combats Murphy on his ostentatious claim. Will Murphy live up to the high standards he sets for his guests when he has to be the guest himself? Or will he just end up telling on himself and alienate people even further? Listen to his argument and then a litany of hot takes as the season comes to a close. Objection: Argumentative! will return...eventually...

"Agnosticism is objectively the best belief system for people to have." Science teacher Mr. (Mike) Hudson comes on the show to argue for the pros of agnosticism and Murphy does his best to poke holes in his theory without rattling too many cages. Listen as Murphy rejoices at having a real adult on for the first time and eventually defends his bad driving opinion.

"Movie studios should invest in and create just as much in other genres to balance out the action franchises." Film camp alumni Claire Dobbs comes on to argue that studios should steer away from violence in movies and invest heavily in things like rom-coms for the betterment of Hollywood at large. Murphy is highly skeptical and pokes holes in the practicalities and necessity of it all. Listen to them fight and talk over each other!

"There is objective truth and no such thing as 'my truth'" Top Five member Brooks Busby comes on to argue the existence of objectivity and that one's personal declaration of "my truth" should not be validated. Murphy pokes some holes in that and then complains about his new big grammar pet peeve.

“Psychedelic drugs have high potential for therapeutic use” Top Five Member and Pharmacology PhD student (Mary) Frances Vest comes on to argue that psychedelic drugs have far more benefits than detriments. Murphy is very skeptical and does his best to argue about drugs with a drug student.

Gen Z Film Major Josh Philips comes on to argue that Gen Z is going to ruin art as we know it. Murphy finds this hard to believe.

"Film Twitter is a toxic cesspool." Podcast superstar Adam Sirdoreus comes on to argue that...film twitter is bad? Murphy tries his best to argue against such an inherently true statement.

"Anyone should be cast as any role, regardless of the actors' sexuality/gender identity." Top Five Member Julia Warren comes on to argue that not all LGBTQ+ roles should have to be played by LGBTQ+ actors. Murphy argues that this should not be the case.

"Movies' significance can come from something contrary to the dominant opinion, often something the filmmaker didn't even intend " Former roommate and film studies major Cedric Bobro comes on the show to argue that movies can be read in unconventional ways based on elements below the surface, regardless of the filmmaker's intent. Murphy argues that Cedric's methods are absurd.

"It's all the media's fault" News media enthusiast Patrick Fretwell comes on the show to argue that the media isn't responsible for the political and social divide in this country. Murphy begs to differ. Theme Music by Jack Tunnell

Finally! An introduction to my upcoming podcast starring all my friends and their hottest takes!